friends in Jules, West and the Rutledge family, and the others from Rossview who went to A&M. She's told me about her social life at school, she's not alone, but I'm not sure they know the truth about what's going on here. Jules Blacklin wouldn't let her best friend deal with these things alone. That's not her style.
Owen scratches at his jaw and stands. "Chase was coming from a good place, Carter. Neither of us meant to upset Jess. We know how much you like her."
"You think I don't know that?" In unspoken solidarity, we close the spaces between us until we're standing in a small circle. I hook my arm around Chase's neck and jerk her into a hug when her anxious eyes meet mine. "I love you, Chase. I'd slay dragons for you, and you would do the same for me. Even when you should stand back instead."
She pulls her head back and laughs. "Is that your way of saying back off?"
"That's my way of saying thank you, and yes, back off."
"She's got what, a little over one month? Then what?" Owen asks after Frey and Chase drive off. "What's your plan, because I know it isn't your choice, Coop, but I like the guy who's showed up at the garage since Jess came around. We don't want the pissed-off-at-the-world guy back."
I kick at my tire wall. It looks a little low, I'll check the pressure later. The thought is a smokescreen for the real issue. "No matter what I do, she goes back to school. I'll try not to be any more of an asshole than I am now once she's gone."
"It's not like you can't hook up when she comes to town, or hell, College Station is two hours away. I'm up for some co-ed runs. Hit up some games and check Rutledge out before he goes pro."
I shake my head. "She's constantly worried people only see her as her parents’ daughter. I can't make her a hookup, not with the mother she has. She deserves more." I check my watch. "Shit, I'm cooking her dinner tonight, I need to get home."
It takes two hours of talk at dinner to convince Jess that Chase and Owen don't hate her, but she's withdrawn. Her affection not as open as it was before. I drive her home, frustrated and unsure of how to move forward.
"Wait!" I grab her hand. "Stay there," I say, pushing my door open and jogging around the car to open hers.
She usually kisses me and slips out on her own, preferring I not walk her to the door for fear of her dad seeing me. It's another issue she has that I try not to take personally. Tonight I need one last embrace. She stands in the vee of the door and vehicle, and I step closer, boxing her in.
"Spend the night tomorrow." I cup her face and bend to her level. "You don't work Sunday, spend the night and day with me. Just us." Why didn't I think of this before?
Her gaze slides left, not looking at me when she replies, "I don't think that's a good idea."
"Why?" My hands drop, and I straighten. "We discussed this, Jess. I'm not going anywhere. We agreed on the summer, didn't we? Even if Chase and Owen and my parents, and this whole damn town hate it, who the fuck cares?" She puffs her cheeks and releases a lengthy exhale. I pinch her chin between my thumb and index finger. "This is between you and me. That's it. I'm not ready to end this yet, are you?"
I feel the brush of her touch along my stomach, but my eyes don't waver. "Are you?"
"No," she says low, then louder. "No, I'm not."
Thank fuck! Our arms tangle as we draw each other close and seal this promise with a kiss.
The following day she spends the night, and in-between breaking in the kitchen counter, couch, hallway wall, and her little pink bullet, we discuss her fears of letting people in. She doesn't know how to rely on others, mostly because the people she should have trusted to be reliable never were. In return for her honesty, I share some of my own.
"The reason I decided not to return to Oregon was that being there is too damn painful. I can barely talk to my teammates or coaches without feeling rage that, if I let it, it could consume me. Football wasn't gonna be forever. I've always known I'd have